Evaluating EAP Counseling in the Chinese Workplace: A Study with a Brief Instrument

Abstract

This study examines if and to what degree an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) intervention improves Chinese employees’ workplace functioning. The sample included 670 employees from 26 local and multinational companies in China who received EAP counseling. The Chinese translation of the Workplace Outcome Suite-Short Version, a five-item outcome assessment instrument, was used as a pre/post measure. Four of the five items showed significant improvements from the pre- to posttest. The effect sizes on the items varied, indicating that EAP produced different levels of impact on dimensions of workplace functioning. Future research should examine the influences of different EAP models, client organizations, and dimensions of workplace functioning.

KEYWORDS:

• Employee Assistance Programs
• EAP in China
• workplace outcomes